I had a night of strange dreams last night, and all of them centered around the practice of Holy Communion/ Lords Supper/ Eucharist/... the fact that there are so many ways of naming it is confusing from the outset. I seemed to be floating from one situation to another trying to derive meaning from what we do. This may be partly reflective of my journey through a number of different denominations all of whom place different levels of importance and stresses on practice; Congregationalist, Baptist, Episcopalian, various flavours of Free Church, Anglican and finally Methodist, and even then each local situation is different.
When I think about different Chapels in this Circuit some have prominent tables, some have little more than shelves, some are central, others to the side, and others are dwarfed by enormous pulpits. Some set the table with a plate a decent sized roll and a chalice ( even if it is not used beyond being a visual representation) while others dice up tiny pieces of white sliced bread and only have thimble sized "cups".
Different emphases are placed on the importance of receiving communion too, I have a few members from a Primitive Methodist background who don't receive at all because they can't see the point. I'm not sure why as even the Prims administered communion to their members, although again local practice varied, we have talked about it and they say they might receive if they feel it is right... who am I to argue?
So as I head of to preside this morning I am pondering what is important to me and why, this is a continuation of my musings over the last few years, you can find previous posts here and here there are more but they sum up my thinking quite well.
So why another post? Well my dreams highlighted for me the importance of Holy Communion, and my desire that others should also find it meaningful and through it enter into a real encounter with the living God. I think that is why I am concerned about practice. I don't like using diced up sliced bread, and am not happy if the only cup on the table is thimble sized, as for the table, then I want there to be a proper table...
Why these specific preferences, quite simply because I believe that these elements enhance the telling of the story, to stand at a table and lift a plate and a chalice, to lift and tear open a small loaf of bread, all of these things are visual reminders. Important visual cues that help us to place ourselves into the story, to become invited guests and friends at Jesus table. I also value the set liturgy of the church (Methodist in my case) which does more than tell the story of the last supper by inviting us to affirm our faith and reminding us of the holiness of the sacrament. Each time I lead the Great prayer of Thanksgiving I am humbled and awed by it; today these words becme particularly significant:
When we wandered from you in our sin
you sought us out with your steadfast love,
and did not give us up.
(Methodist Worship Book; Easter Season pg 169)
So why am I pondering this in the midst of what may seem to some more important stuff, when the country is preparing to go to the polls, when wars prevail, and when the skies of Europe are a no fly zone? Well quite simply because in order to deal with and think about all of that stuff I feel the need to be centered, and Holy Communion centres me, it calls me back to the source of my faith and then sends me out again nourished and recommissioned. It stands at the centre of the rhythm of faith reminding me of its source and purpose, and it requires me to reconnect with the living God through the elements. Yes reading the Scriptures and prayer do this, but it is at the table that I find the centre, and at the table where I am reminded again that heaven truly has touched earth.
